Around Flamborough Head

Moving along the coast towards Bridlington, we found a tiny CL near Bempton. It wasn’t the first choice but it might as well have been. It is next to the railway station and is a 1.5 mile walk by road to the RSPB place at Bempton cliffs, so it is a very good base.

Here they say the Puffins are arriving from west Africa but all we could see were Kittiwakes and Gannets, already establishing their nests on cliff perches.

Gannets are the seabirds that are normally only seen at a distance, well out to sea and usually diving into the water from a good height and apparently at speeds up to 60mph.

Now they are circling in front of the cliff faces and occasionally dropping onto their spot. Hundreds of them, nicely avoiding the greater quantity of Kittiwakes. They are a beautiful bird, effortlessly soaring with their large wingspan.

I’m afraid that my iPhone camera is no match for the long lenses on show at the RSPB lookouts.

It was an almost freezing night but thankfully dry at last. The D2 heater was on all evening and the bright sky and cold woke us at 6:30 and we were on plan for an early start and a long walk to Bridlington.

In a stiff breeze from somewhere near Iceland we walked back to the coast path and turned east towards Flamborough Head. It’s quite a trek but at least the wind was almost behind us.

These cliffs are spectacular.

Turning towards Bridlington, we headed into the wind but instead of dropping as we expected, it got stronger and the next few miles were head down and push on.

Bridlington was a little busy but there was no queue at the favourite chip shop and we had a very late lunch.

Then onwards to the station for a 9 minute ride back on the 16:04 to Bempton.

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